“And when peace comes, remember today, to make the world of tomorrow Queen Elizabeth II, 1940 Wartime
remember it will be for us, the children of tomorrow a better and happier place.”
With the world as it stands — the collapse of health and water infrastructure in Lebanon and Syria, conflict exacerbating hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan, consistent natural disasters as a result of climate change, the rising hunger crises in Afghanistan, renewed hostilities in DR Congo, global economic instability and the increasing number of people displaced by conflict in Myanmar and more recently in Ukraine — it has become more important than ever to be as prepared as possible in order to withstand times of adversity.
Research has proven that humanitarian crises, particularly conflict, has a disproportionate impact on women and girls. Their ability to move around freely in disasters is often affected or even restricted.
Gender inequality affects how women receive timely emergency assistance, and may often cause higher incidences of gender-based violence, including arbitrary killings, torture and sexual assault. Additionally, in male-headed households, women may experience a loss of economic security due to males being recruited for combat.
As we conclude the year, in this issue we hope to encourage you with inspirational stories of ordinary women who are impacting their communities, and help you navigate effective ways of dealing with the unexpected — whether it be financially, mentally or professionally.
Wherever you find yourself this holiday season, we’re sending you wishes of peace, joy and repose. We are so grateful for your support and wish you much happiness & health in 2023.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Zoey Nyati
SENIOR DESIGNER
Marina Boada
SENIOR EDITOR Kathy Kelley
CONTRIBUTORS
Idah Achiume
Briony Liber Andiswa Mojapelo
Jo Parker
Sister Zeph Baiba Žiga
Global Women’s Water Initiative
Despitetheircentralrolesaswaterstewards,thelackofwomen’sparticipationand leadershipintheWASHsectorremains.Thesestorieshonoracadreofwomenimpacting WASH services in their communities.
Grandmothers and best friends, Angella and Martha are quite familiar with the challenges resulting from living amid conflict. They are both from Marindi, Uganda, a village on the border of South Sudan which has been plagued by conflict for decades. In the mid 80s, during the war, they fled Uganda and lived as refugees in Sudan. They reunited eight years after the war to help rebuild their hometowns and are dedicated to providing clean water and sanitation to their communities. Angella first learned how to build toilets at 64 years of age — starting with pit latrines, then moving onto composting toilets. To date they have learned to build a variety of different rainwater harvesting systems including capturing water from thatched roofs, ferro cement tank construction and also how to repair and clean gutters.
Together, Angella and Martha have installed full WASH facilities — water tanks, toilets, clean water filters and a cleaning bay for the girls when
they are menstruating — at a community school (see image). The number of girls now nearly equals the number of boys at this particular school. The head teacher believes it is because the school now has these facilities and because of the hygiene program Angella and Martha introduced. The school was able to save money by not having to buy clean water or pay for diarrhea medication, and opted to buy paper, books, chalk and menstrual pads for the girls so they never have to miss school when they are menstruating.
Additionally, together with other women in the community, they opened the first Global Women’s Water Initiative local chapter. The initiative offers WASH services and even started a local savings circle for its members. They are constructing WASH technologies wherever there is demand. Enabling them to make money and save more than $2,300 in their savings circle.
Angella & MarthaGrace is a community organizer and board member at Bukoba Women’s Empowerment Association in Tanzania, bringing groups of women together to discuss development projects and increase women’s participation in the management of their livelihoods. With efficient training obtained from a women-led WASH service center, Grace has been able to introduce water, sanitation and hygiene education for improved health; water testing techniques to identify contaminated water and introduce affordable ways to clean water; and rain harvesting technologies to help women have access to water closer to their homes, which prevents them having to walk up to eight hours a day collecting clean water.
She has been able to help train women in her community to build rainwater harvesting systems with tanks providing clean water to over 1,000 people in Kasangi,Tanzania. Grace’s passion and drive sees her bringing solutions and muchneeded change to her community.
Jane is a member of the Kenya Self Help Project (KSHP). She learned how to make and sell soap through the Women and Water Leadership Academy which trains women to earn an income by making and selling water- and hygienerelated products as well as professionalizing their services as masons hired to construct various technologies. “Me, making soap…I used to see them in the supermarkets being displayed. I didn’t have any knowledge or any know-how. But now it is me making, selling. Haa — it is marvelous! I have a passion with what I’m doing.” Jane sells her soap at the market in order to supplement her income. During the pandemic, she and other trained women were tapped as essential workers by their local governments and had been working with health officials to sensitize her fellow community members on the COVID-19 response.
I have a diploma in rural development from College of Business Administration, Uganda. My additional qualifications include certificates in: office management from Kenya School of Government, rural electrification, small hydro-processor and water resources management from China, entrepreneurship and small business in water supply and sanitation development from India, and organizational needs assessment and project design from Japan.
How did you step into your current role?
After 10 years working in hygiene promotion at the Ministry, I moved on to becoming a senior hygiene community officer. My current role as Assistant Director for Sanitation and Hygiene, I obtained through the normal promotion in the government public service system.
What has been the most significant challenge and/or obstacle on this journey, and how did you overcome it?
South Sudan is one of the most fragile states in
Africa, and adequate water supply services are key for humanity to thrive. I believe that women play a major role in this service provision. Though tough at times, that is why I persevered in this profession. I have gained much benefit from gender responsiveness, as it has created a space for women’s participation in decision-making on water governance.
How do you suggest males support other females in the industry?
It is necessary to engage females in decision-making processes. Enable open communication in service provision decisions, since the majority of drinking water users are women – they are more often involved in fetching household water. What organizational structures or improvements do you believe would make the work-life balancing easier for women who embark on starting a family?
Implement appropriate policies and structures as early as possible in the employment process – at the entry level of the organogram.
What is your proudest career achievement?
When I became a community mobilizer and hygiene promotion officer in water supply and sanitation.
What steps do you believe should be taken to attract more women into the WASH industry?
First, to accept women applicants in the WASH industry. Second, to give women who apply the first option if they are the best option. And last,
to build the capacity of women, which will enable them to be more engaged in WASH industry.
What is your advice to young women who feel overlooked, passed by, or may have been sexually harassed in the workplace?
I believe in encouraging gender mainstreaming in the workplace and at home. In the workplace specifically, break the biases surrounding gender inequality.
Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world, with more than 220 million people. It is also the ground zero for global warming consequences. Pakistan contributes less than one percent of the world’s greenhouse gasses that cause global warming, yet its 220 million people are among the world’s most vulnerable victims of climate change. For the past 20 years, Pakistan has consistently ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries on the Climate Risk Index, with 10,000 fatalities due to climate-related disasters and financial losses amounting to about $4 billion from 173 extreme weather events including severe heat waves, landslides, smog, floods, droughts and forest fires.
Consequently, resources such as water have become scarce. It is alarming that the Himalayan and Karakoram glaciers will retreat in the next three to four decades, increasing flows in the Indus River System. Glaciers in Pakistan are continuously melting because of rising temperatures. By 2035, the country will no longer have water reserves in the shape of glaciers, threatening the food security and livelihood of those who depend on the Indus Basin irrigation system. The receding glaciers’ impact on 95% of irrigated land will
especially affect the livelihoods of small farmers. In August, I was astounded to see videos surface from Sawat and other cities showing flood waters overflowing in roads and demolishing houses, hotels, big buildings and bridges. The flooding wreaked havoc in four provinces, with one-fourth of the country underwater. My city, Gujranwala, was one of the few spared. Despite their pleas for help, people drowned as helpless onlookers struggled to reach them. Many people died under their own roofs, surrounded by water. Mothers desperately searched the waters for their children. A couple of days had changed the whole country.
I decided to visit the areas myself and meet survivors of the flood in person. I chose a nearby location, Kotmomin, where our organization brought grocery packs for 100 families and school supplies for 100 students. Located near Chenab River, Kotmomin is a traditional agricultural district. There is a sharp divide between the rich (landlords) and the poor (landless peasants or small farmers). Floods and heavy monsoon rains caused the river to swell and erode 3,000 acres of land, destroying 2,050 acres and the liveli-
hoods of around 450 small farmers.
As soon as we reached the targeted area, women and children shouted, “Be careful! The land will go into the river anytime due to erosion.” The whole time I was there, they cautioned us because their acres of land, homes, cattle, and crops had become a part of the river. Children suffered from diarrhea and skin diseases, while women lacked access to private washrooms, clean water and medical treatment. Mosquito bites covered their faces, hands, and feet; many were itchy and feverish without a place to bathe. Women told us they had not washed their faces for many days and had to eat food provided by the NGOs with dirty hands because there was no clean water to drink or bathe.
The floods killed more than 1,500 people and impacted 33 million people, 16 million of them children. In the aftermath, UNICEF reports that 3.4 million children needed lifesaving aid immediately, and 3 million children lost access to education. Eight hundred thousand pregnant women now lack access to basic health facilities. With one-fourth of the country underwater, Pakistan needs $30 billion to rebuild. More than 1.1 million
by Sister Zephhouses have been damaged or destroyed, and inflation has reached 39%. People lack access to food and nutrition even in areas with no flooding.
I think of the people I met and the many needs they face in the aftermath of these floods. In the weeks and months ahead, they’ll need medicine, sanitary pads, soap, clean drinking water, clothes, blankets and winter gear. I wish I could do more for them, but I do not have any more resources to offer. I wish I could give them hope, bring a smile to their faces, make them feel they are not alone, and make them realize that humanity is still alive in the world. But I can bring attention to their plight.
Sister Zeph is the Founder and CEO of the ZWEE foundation, an organization in Pakistan, working to raise the status of women through education and empowerment so they can have equal opportunities, rights and authority in their lives. If you wouldliketofindoutmoreabouttheworkof ZWEEFoundation,followthemon:
zephaniaheducation.org
Pakistan has consistently ranked among the top 10 most vulnerable countries on the Climate Risk Index
There is too much unnecessary suffering linked to the systems and organizations we find ourselves engaged in and constantly navigating. The destruction of the precious environmental ecosystems, the increasing number of people living on the poverty line, the toxic systemic injustices that create enormous divides and harm in the society, the staggering number of people experiencing depression and stress that lead to chronic health problems to name a few.
This begs the question: “Will the leadership that got us here get us to a better and brighter future”?
When you search for a book on leadership, the first few titles that pop up are lists of things of how to do something as a leader. The emphasis is on doing, action and driving. In this context, the leader is considered as someone who does, manages, directs, controls, rather than leadership as a concept and the being and presence of a leader.
For decades, we have thought of a ‘leader’ as someone who is unphased, in control and fearless. Showing any emotion was seen as a weakness. This, perhaps toxic, understanding of showing emotion still plagues our society and in turn, gets in the way of us being more compassionate, empathetic and inclusive individuals.
Indeed, some of the key reported and sought-after leadership skills on the leader quality list are integrity, communication, self-awareness, gratitude, learning agility, empathy. We see leaders displaying such virtues being openly celebrated and talked about across social media. But, self-management, self-awareness and empathy don’t just happen. To fully lean into these virtues
and be comfortable with showing up authentically and fully, takes work and a mindset of lifelong learning.
So, what is the recipe for becoming a Healing Leader?
Step one is remembering that this transformation will require investment, of finances, time and effort. I would even go as far as to say that this is not a bandwagon but a lifetime journey you’re looking to embark on.
Step two is taking care of yourself. Building self-awareness and emotional intelligence (EQ). You may discover that there are a lot of things you haven’t discovered, noticed, or reflected on about yourself. Beware, many of these revelations and truths may feel uncomfortable and even unpleasant. However, once you find the courage to stick with it and stay open-minded, you will be rewarded with profound growth opportunities that will make you a better leader, parent, partner and citizen of your community.
Step three is about engaging all your senses and becoming a student. Be truly present, ask questions from a place of curiosity and compassion, and fine-tune yourself to capture what goes unsaid. Observe, who is quiet in the decision-making spaces where you are present, who is being cut off, not recognised, uninvolved. Being an attentive and caring leader will also allow you to make better, more informed decisions.
Step four is to shift your focus of the measurement of your worth as a leader from just increased profits and market share - to ways in which you serve the community your operations impact. Like your employees, clients, suppliers, partners and the environment. In other words, practicing servant leadership.
Being a healing leader doesn’t mean throwing everything you know and have learnt about leadership away (though on some occasions it might be useful) but evolving as a leader. Make the mission of leadership greater than just profit and status. Make it about enriching the lives of communities and creating conscious and caring cultures.
by Baiba ŽigaRonMartinisanEnvironmentalEngineerwithinternationalexperienceinWASH, includingWaterandWastewaterTreatment,ProcessDesign,andEmergency ResponseandRecovery.HecurrentlyservesastheTechnicalDirectorfor SapitwaProjectHouseandasaFirstResponderwithHoodRiverCragRats MountainSearchandRescue,bothbasedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
What sparked the career desire to embark on disaster response and recovery and post conflict opportunities within the WASH sector?
I first studied chemical engineering because I enjoyed math and chemistry but when I started working, I did not like what many industries were doing to the environment. My love of travel, nature, and outdoor activities (especially water and snow sports) led me to environmental engineering. I was attracted to the WASH sector because it can have a huge impact on protecting human health and the environment. Working in disaster, recovery, and post-conflict settings can be difficult but
it can also be rewarding when WASH interventions succeed in providing rapid lifesaving help to people.
Who have you found to be the worst affected people/ group in disaster or conflict situations (e.g., males, females, children, elderly, etc.) and, how do these events impact WASH services this group requires?
While anyone can be traumatized by conflict and disaster, it is essential to include the most vulnerable and marginalized persons during WASH interventions. Children, women, elderly, disabled persons, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQ, and others can all be
affected disproportionately. You must consider the special needs of everyone, primarily because water and sanitation are basic human rights for everyone. But also, from a practical point, failing to provide WASH services to anyone can endanger the entire community and often even beyond the community.
Please share your views on the importance of working and building successful professional relationships with women in the WASH industry, especially when working in disaster/ conflict situations.
Besides the obvious points of equality and inclusion, women can add a perspective to WASH
that men will either not be as familiar with or be completely ignorant of. Where women are uncomfortable speaking with men (and vice versa), women WASH professionals can make direct outreach to women when men cannot. For example, this could be due to trauma, cultural or religious norms or modesty.
What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the term “gender equality”?
It is unacceptable that we are still dealing with gender inequality even in many of the supposedly most “progressive” countries. When you exclude, marginalize, oppress, or discriminate against any population, you are excluding countless ideas, innovations and productivity. It defies logic and is a poor reflection on society. I have been lucky to have been surrounded by smart and strong women in my family, my friendships, and in my work, and this has demonstrated to me that women can do at least as well as men and often better.
In your opinion, what do you believe is a suitable approach for an organization to take when an issue of gender-based violence arises (e.g., sexual harrasement, bullying, psychological abuse) in the workspace-whether in an office or a deployment setting?
Any threat, bullying, exploitation, or violence is unaccept-
able. Prevention should be the goal by initial and recurring training and awareness, implementing and making everyone familiar with a zerotolerance policy, and providing reporting structures that protect the victim. Prompt investigation of infractions and appropriate and timely justice should be implemented as a deterrent and also so that employees and stakeholders have a safe working environment.
How do you suggest that males support the career progression of their female colleagues in the WASH industry?
Sadly, the WASH industry is dominated by males. First, we need to bring more females into the WASH sector.
This starts with outreach to females attending university but also before university. Providing scholarships and financial aid to women to encourage them to study for a career in WASH could help. We also need to treat our female colleagues equally (pay, promotion, decision making, respect, support, etc.) not just to retain them but to provide a working environment which they can thrive in. We must also acknowledge that household and family tasks disproportionally fall upon women so we must also promote pro-women/profamily policies at work.
As I reflect on the past three years, it goes without saying that we were thrust into perilous times and unexpected turmoil. COVID-19 arrived abruptly, interrupted the global ecosystem and forced us to adapt or perish. When it seemed that we had a grip on our new ‘post-COVID’ existence, we were rocked by Russia’s war on Ukraine which, amongst other ills, has resulted in widespread global inflation. I cannot help but lament on the intersectionality of our current existence and, as the saying goes, we were kicked like a dog, when we were already down and trying to rise up.
Yet if you are reading this, you survived the unexpected. It can be argued that both the pandemic and the war were unpredictable events. However some were more prepared than others
and therefore their experience played out much better than those that “built their homes in clay soil”. One lesson that these events have taught us is to be better prepared for the unexpected and to to better equip ourselves to cope with and through such situations. While I am not qualified to comment on the financial and economical ways to arm oneself, I can offer a few tips on how to fortify your mental armour.
Love them like you won’t see them again. The harshest part about the COVID-19 pandemic was the rapid loss of life due to the nature of the virus. The fragility of life and our inevitable mortality was brought to the forefront as many of us experienced the death of loved ones. It is from this tragedy that we must heed the lesson to appreciate those closest to us, and to love them like
we will never see them again, everyday.
Do that thing that you keep putting off. In South Africa, our lockdown regulations were ranked amongst the strictest worldwide. At some point we were locked up in our homes for weeks on end fearing for the worst. The memories of being separated from family and friends, while also being confined to our homes, should serve a reminder to live our lives fully, with few regrets. So stop procrastinating, and do that thing that you have been putting off. Start that business. Quit your deadbeat job. See a therapist. Make peace with your father. Just do it!
Save for a rainy day, but take that holiday too. We should know by now that being financially savvy is one way to be better prepared for the unexpected. That said, I would like to throw a spanner in the works and suggest that, when you’ve done all the things that adulting requires, i.e. paid your bills, book that holiday and take some time to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Taking a holiday is necessary to refuel the body and the mind.
Your health matters, make it a priority. The importance of a well-balanced, healthy life was a lesson at the forefront of the pandemic, given that people with comorbidities and poor health
were more susceptible to succumbing to the virus. Being healthy, both mentally and physically, is more urgent now than it ever was. Investing in one’s health is by no means a one size fits all and with small positive changes to one’s habits and behaviours, personal health outcomes are more likely to be favourable over time.
As a firm believer in the principle of learning from past experiences, I urge us to pay attention to our behaviours and how they shape our future life outcomes. Each one of us has the responsibility to approach life with intentionality to ensure that in the event of an unforeseen pandemic, war or life-changing situation, we are better equipped to survive and thrive.
by Ida Achiume Shiaka
Yes, it is possible to survive without an emergency fund but having one is one of the best financial decisions you could ever make! Life is unpredictable and we need to make sure that we have readily available savings for those unforeseen circumstances that creep up because chances are, they will. Dave Ramsey, an American personal finance expert, author, and businessman, says that “an emergency becomes an inconvenience when you have money – and if you don’t it could be a huge crisis”. An adequate emergency fund should range between 3 to 6 months of your monthly expenses. For example, if it costs you $15 000 to sustain yourself on a monthly basis, your emergency fund should range from $45 000 to $90 000. It sounds like a lot of money, but it’s fascinating to learn how we aren’t afraid of spending $45 000 in 3 months or less, yet we are terrified at the thought of having to save that much over a long period of time. Once you make the necessary sacrifices to build an adequate emergency fund, you will have the capacity to focus on other financial goals. Provided of course that you dip into your savings for emergencies only (this doesn’t include that Zara sale, by the way). Unfortunately, the reality is that most people only realise the importance of saving up for emergencies when it’s too late. Don’t fret - all is not lost if a crisis finds you unprepared, you can still do the following while you work towards building one.
Pull out three highlighters from your desk and print three months of your bank statements to understand where you are currently spending your money. The aim is to separate the amounts into three groups, each allocated its own colour. Group 1 is fixed expenses such as rent, car instalments, debt repayments, etc. I’d use pink here. Group 2 is for semi-fixed expenses such as month-to-month subscriptions, family support, etc.. Let’s make this one orange. Last are your variable costs like groceries, takeaways and overall entertainment. This group should definitely be green as these expense items are good to “go” much sooner than others. Once you’ve highlighted the entire statement, it’s time to start making the necessary sacrifices, starting with cutting the green line items and then onto the orange. How far you have to go will depend on the intensity of your financial crisis, but the aim is to increase your cash flow by reducing your expenses as quickly as possible.
Sticking to your goals is great but understanding the context is equally important. You must be open and willing to reprioritise what you had originally planned until you recover from the financial crisis. Insisting on fulfilling what you had set out to do when the circumstances were more
favourable will only be to the detriment of your finances in the long run. That holiday you had planned to the last detail can wait. You are more likely to enjoy it if you are not stressing about money anyway.
comfortable questions that may arise from people around. It’s important to keep the end goal in mind at all times.
It may seem like all is lost when you find yourself in a financial crisis without an emergency fund but once you accept the situation for what it really is and immediately put measures in place to work towards improving your situation, you will start seeing the rewards. Before you know it, you’re well on your way to financial freedom.
by Andiswa Mojapelo
Let’s say you’ve gone through the green line items and the orange but the situation hasn’t improved as much as you need it to. The reality is that you might need to start looking at those pink items too. You used to afford the rent comfortably and the spare bedroom was really nice to have but you might want to reconsider this and others in the context of your current financial situation. Downgrading your lifestyle is probably the most difficult thing to do because of the un-
Jo Parker has over 40 yearsexperienceinthe water and utilities industry.Sheisa technical director specializinginthe managementofburied assets,particularlyin the water sector and serves as a ROCKBlue UtilitySpecialist.
Anyone working in the water industry has to deal with conflict situations. Different stakeholders will have conflicting requirements and one of the skills needed by any manager in the water industry is the ability to balance the following: the need to cover operating and capital investment costs versus the need to keep customer charges as low as possible; the need to maintain services versus the vagaries of the weather, or the need for work-life-balance whilst dealing with a 24/7/365 industry.
Sadly, it will be impossible to please everyone all of the time and it can be difficult to develop a thick enough skin to ignore criticism which may come from many directions, in spite of one’s best efforts.
So, how can those working in the water industry cope with these conflicting situations?
First of all, this is a worldwide problem. In the USA and UK the press has been very critical of the water industry in spite of some dedicated and exceptional service from many of those working in the sector. In other countries, the media may be less critical but the general public rarely appreciate the processes required to treat water thousands of kilometres below the ground, which also have to be managed and maintained.
Customer information and education can make a huge difference. Visiting schools for outreach work or developing social media posts may seem like an extra load but it can help explain to customers the pressures facing people working in the water industry such that they support the water utility (by reporting leaks or reducing their water consumption), rather than just complaining.
Another important action to help deal with conflicting demands is developing a robust str ategy and communicating that to the whole company. This strategy should include SMART
goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed. An example of such a goal might be “Extend the period of supply to customers from 8 hours to 12 hours by December 31st 2023.” Such a strategy must be developed collaboratively by all the senior managers of the organisation and used as the basis of communications to the whole organisation as well as communications to stakeholders such as customers, politicians, pressure groups and providers of funding. If the strategy can be summarised into a short memorable phrase, so much the better. An excellent example of this is Anglian Water. They have a detailed business plan which has been summarised into a few diagrams. They take the opportunity to promote their strategy at every opportunity – recently one Anglian Water employee gave me his business card. On the back was the strategy summarised as “Our Purpose –to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to LOVE EVERY DROP.” That phrase – love every drop – appears on vehicles, on every mode of communication and the managing director refers to it repeatedly and how it translates into their detailed strategy.
Having a clear sense of direction makes everything fall into place, so ensure that your organisation works on its business strategy and work out how your department contributes to that strategy. If you’re not in a position to influence the strategy, then focus on your own department. Think about what you want to achieve this year, or what your targets are? Are they ‘SMART’? That way you have the best chance of balancing all the conflicting situations that may arise in the future.
by Jo ParkerA human rights activist and global campaigner against the use of rape as a weapon of war, Nobel Peace laureate from east Congo, and world renowned specialist in the gynaecological treatment of wartime sexual violence.
This book is a call to action for humankind to come together in the fight against sexual violence against women. It opens up a conversation about gender disparities and how they incite, normalize, and permit sexual assault. Not just throughout history, but today, still. Not just in developing countries, but everywhere men and women live together.
Feminist Perspectives on Water Conflict and Cooperation.
This recently published volume assesses the nexus of gender and transboundary water governance, containing empirical case studies, discourse analysis, practitioners’ accounts, and theoretical reflections.
This book will equip and help leaders navigate conflict in practical and healthy ways. It is filled with real-life events and rooted in research, offering specific tools and practical examples of how to navigate conflict individually and as a team. As conflict is never absent from leadership, this book will provide leaders with courage, perspective, clarity and calm when needed most.
This new podcast series explores the nature and role of the United Nation’s collective power in advancing gender equality.
Produced by the American Negotiation Institute, and hosted by the institute Director - Kwame Christian, this podcast aims to help make difficult conversations easier by sharing the skills and mindset you need to lead, persuade, resolve conflicts and negotiate anything.
In Yemen, a country amid an intractable civil war, water is so scarce and the water that is available it’s bending people’s bones This video tells the story of how the water crisis is affecting everyday life in Yemen.
I was at an event a while ago aimed at connecting young professionals with mentors in their industry. It was a wonderful evening with many young people voicing their career challenges. The advice they received from potential mentors was inspiring and it seemed that many connections would be made that evening. After the formal event, about 20 young women approached me to consider mentoring them – something I am only too open to doing. I handed out all my business cards and encouraged each young woman to make contact. I left wondering how I would decide who to mentor (as I would not be able to mentor all of them, sadly), and was excited about doing more to contribute to the development of young women who are career-driven!
To date I have not received a single communication from any of the seemingly eager potential mentees!!! For a while I wondered if I had done something wrong, whether there was some cultural miscommunication, whether I scared anyone off. Then I became frustrated and sad – I would have sent an email first thing the next morning if I had wanted someone to mentor me.
In discussions with several young people a few weeks later, I have come to realize that the disconnect between the many women asking for my card the one evening and the lack of follow-up communications since then can be attributed to many reasons, including: cultural differences, lack of confidence, societal norms, belief systems, assumptions around value of mentoring, fear around what it means to ask for help and advice, per-
ceptions around mentoring taking up time in an already busy schedule, and assumptions around mentoring being something that you get, rather than a relationship that you develop.
It made me think about five reasons why one would need a mentor:
Nobody is too good, too clever, or too important to have a mentor.
Everyone can benefit from having another person’s perspective when they are experiencing a career challenge. A mentor who understands your industry, the type of work you do, and the career challenges you might face can help you to brainstorm the cause of your dilemma, give you advice, lift you out of your own “stuff” and encourage you to push through those challenges. Most mentors have more experience than their mentee – and their experience and wisdom can bring a lot to a discussion when you are feeling stuck or losing hope. It doesn’t mean you have to act on that advice, but rather that you use it to broaden your perspective and way of thinking.
Mentors tend to have a wide circle of people in their networks, and pave the way for you to make those connections too. Mentors may be willing and even proud to introduce their mentees to people that could help them go further in their career. Without a mentor, you may be limiting your access to new opportunities, exciting projects, access to influencers and the opportunity
to be seen, heard and recognised.
They stand up for you and are “in your corner” when you need them to be. A mentor will always seek to empower you to speak up for yourself and to be seen and heard, but if necessary will speak up for you when you can’t do it yourself!
Helping you push your boundaries and learn new skills
Most mentors want to work with people that are willing to invest in themselves and can often see potential where we can’t see it in ourselves. When you need a boost out of your comfort zone, a mentor is the person who will encourage you to take a risk and push your boundaries. Your success is a great reflection on your mentor!
There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you have contributed to someone else’s development and success. Mentoring is a relationship rather than a transaction. While a mentoring relationship can sometimes outlive its purpose, for
the most part the development of a strong relationship with a mentor can result in having the support and backing of someone throughout your career for as long as you want it. Why wouldn’t you want that?
If you are seeking a mentoring relationship, consider the following: Who could I be learning from? Who inspires me and has a career that I would like to emulate? How could I offer value to a mentor in return for their investment of time in me? What are my career development goals and who (could be more than one mentor) could help me achieve those goals? What sort of support and guidance am I looking for?
by Briony LiberNo one likes giving negative feedback. In my career, I have had my share of giving and receiving feedback - sometimes successfully, other times not. I’m still haunted by an experience of having launched a verbal attack on two ex-colleagues because I’d felt embarrassed in front of a client, due to their careless mistakes. I needed them to experience some of that shame, which in turn made me lose some credibility along the way. My approach to giving them feedback reflected a year’s worth of general frustration with where I was in my own life. Years later in my career I found myself on the receiving end of some hurtful feedback.
There are three lessons I have learnt to giving and receiving feedback:
1. Talk about issues in real time and be brave, be candid and be human.
Kim Scott, author and co-founder of Radical Candor, talks about the sweet spot where one can challenge directly while caring personally - an approach that is founded in respectful relationships. It is possible to say difficult things in a way that is constructive and supports the relationship, but it gets harder and harder the longer one leaves it, and it gives all those emotions and internal voices the opportunity to simmer and grow.
I recently learned a technique, called COIN, which is a constructive process for giving feedback, and when used in real time, can help address specific issues there and then. The COIN process works like this:
• C is for context - provide specific context on what has happened. For example: “On this specific project, at this specific time or day”.
• O is for observation - outline what behavior you have observed and focus on addressing the behavior, rather than attacking the person. For example: “I received a complaint from our client about an email that was written in a way that our client found to be rude and inappropriate, specifically some of the language used”
• I is for Impact - often we exclude the actual impact and so the feedback lacks substancebe explicit on what the impact is. For example: “The impact of this email is that the client has threatened to cancel our contract as he feels personally attacked and disrespected”.
• N is for Next - we also often don’t explain what the next right action or behavior is - be explicit on what behavior is expected. For example “Together we are going to apologize to the client and in future communications, please
ensure that your communication is kept professional”.
The reality is, the delivery of feedback can reflect two things: being too nice or holding back on any form of feedback, can reflect a discomfort with conflict and/or a concern around hurting the recipient’s feelings - this is not about you, this is about the deliverer of the feedback, or being aggressive and hurtful with feedback, again is a reflection of the mindset of the giver of that feedback. This has no reflection on the recipient and can cause an awful lot of damage, self doubt and loss of confidence in the recipient.
Receiving negative feedback, in whatever format, tends to hurt, and that leads to defensiveness, closing up and shutting out all possibilities. When receiving negative feedback it’s better to ask the questions: What might be going on here? What should I be curious about, instead of what should I be defensive about? What parts of this feed-
back are true and useful, and what parts should I discard?
Withholding feedback eliminates any chance for accountability and it prevents any sort of learning for either party. If you are struggling to have candid conversations with those around you, it might be helpful, before going into the conversation, to ask yourself two questions: what am I intending to achieve with my approach to this conversation, and how will my approach contribute to strengthening this relationship in the long term, and get the required results?
By Briony LiberFollowBrionyon:
A: My suggestion is to follow relevant company websites and add an alert for job notifications on those websites. Most companies these days have career portals that you can apply through. LinkedIn is also a good place to research available jobs and follow companies. Make sure to follow and/ or connect with people at those companies of interest, if possible. Network! Network! Network! And ask trusted people in your network for introductions. Take time to serve your network, perhaps by volunteering in professional bodies, and investing time in making yourself known.
Q: How can I address work-related issues (e.g., a colleague who may be intimidated by me) as a young professional?
A: First, let’s agree that not everyone at work is going to like you and that’s okay. Aim to be respected rather than to be liked. If you are liked and respected, that’s great too. The reality is that it’s possible someone will feel intimidated by you, and you need to accept that this is probably more about them than it is about you. There’s a chance they are insecure and there is not much you can do about that. We are each responsible for our own personal development and if you aren’t intentionally trying to intimidate someone, then that person is responsible for checking their own insecurities. You can, however, put in more effort to ask their opinions, include them in conversations and help shine a light on their
successes. If their intimidation really is rooted in insecurity, you might find this helps them and changes the relationship dynamic positively. It’s worth taking a moment though to reflect on your own behavior and whether you are unintentionally doing something to intimidate someone else.
Focus on being respected - respect generally comes from consistently doing good work, delivering on time and to the right level of quality, listening more than you speak, never gossiping, giving others the benefit of the doubt, and helping others to succeed. Honor these qualities, as they are things you have in your control.
Q: What should my main focus be while job hunting - earning or learning?
A: I read a quote a while back that answers this question beautifully: “In every job you should either be earning or learning. Both is best, but if you are getting neither earning nor learning, then it’s time to leave.”
In reality, I think often it depends on your priorities at the time as it’s impossible to dismiss the fact that for many people having a salary is crucial and overrides other factors. As someone entering the job market, I think it’s crucial to get as much learning and hands-on experience as possible. That sometimes comes at the cost of earning but can in the long run actually increase your earning potential. In the early years of my career I got a number of promotions and increases in quick succession - which was great
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for my bank account and ego, but it meant that I rapidly became too “expensive” to be getting hands-on experience. I made the choice to take a few sideways moves to enable myself to get more of the hands-on experience that I wanted. It slowed down my earning for a year or two, but in many ways I gained experience that I wouldn’t have had otherwise and ultimately made me much more employable and contributed to my earning potential a few years later. More importantly, my ability to do the work effectively and efficiently. Over the course of our careers our priorities change, and when we only strive for money we start to miss the sense of meaning and purpose that comes with learning and being challenged with stretch projects. The flipside is that there are times when we forgo money in order to learn, and the reality of debit orders and living expenses can quickly show up. I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive though.
Q: Is a LinkedIn profile important and how do I make it look “professional”?
A: It’s not just important, it’s crucial!!! A LinkedIn profile is like your own mini-website and a great way to showcase your experience. But stopping at just a profile is not going to be effective. I believe that LinkedIn is the equivalent of a 24/7/365 online conference where your profile is your stand at the conference, your engagement on LinkedIn is the equivalent of networking at a conference, and what you post is the equivalent of you standing at the podium as the keynote speaker. Essentially LinkedIn gives you a platform to network, to position your expertise and to connect with people in your industry, in your profession, and ultimately make yourself known.
A professional profile will generally have the following:
• A profile photo or headshot of you that is approachable and professional
• A banner at the top of your profile that conveys information about your profession
• An About section that summarizes the headlines of your career - if you haven’t had work experience make sure that you highlight your academic achievements, and volunteer and leadership positions. Use keywords in your text that help people find your profile; if you are a water quality specialist, include keywords that relate to your profession to help anyone who would be searching for a water quality specialist to find you.
• Additional material. You can add external links to your About section, like articles/papers that you have published, links to research you have completed, upload PDFs, photos and URLs to websites of organizations that you volunteer to (even better if you are mentioned on the website).
• A completed experience section that includes positions you have held even if they are internships, volunteer positions and vac work, and correctly linked to the LinkedIn business page of the organizations that you have worked at. State what you did at each organization.
• A comprehensive education, qualifications and certifications section.
• Skill section. Use the skills section to ensure your profile is showing up in keyword searches.
• Recommendations. Ask some peers and previous employers and your professors to write a recommendation for you on LinkedIn - having these on your profile is like having someone speaking for you at your stand.
Have career-focused questions? Email them to: ufmag@rockblue.org
